The Spanish city of Barcelona was hit by floods on Monday as search and rescue efforts continue after devastating floods around the city of Valencia last week.

Spain’s state weather agency has placed parts of Catalonia on red alert for torrential rain, with local media showing images of partially submerged cars on a highway.

Parts of Barcelona’s El Prat airport, the second largest in the country, were flooded. More than 80 flights were canceled or delayed, while rail services were suspended.

A similar weather event that hit the Valencia region with a year’s worth of rain last week caused at least 217 deaths. On Monday, rescuers focused their efforts on the search for missing people in the underground parking lots.

The storm trapped many victims in their vehicles on roads and in underground spaces such as parking lots, tunnels and garages, where rescue operations are particularly difficult.

Shoppers and workers are feared to have been trapped in the car park of a mall in Aldaia, on the outskirts of Valencia, as floods overwhelmed the area.

Police confirmed that no victims were found in the first 50 vehicles inspected at the scene.

But reports suggest these vehicles were found near the entrance to the car park, with much of the rest still submerged and yet to be explored.

Among the dead is a British couple in their 70s, whose family they confirmed they were found dead in their car days after floods hit Valencia. So far, no deaths have been reported in Catalonia.

On Monday morning, Spain’s interior minister declined to say how many were still missing.

European football body Uefa said a minute’s silence would be observed at club competition matches “in memory of the victims” and those affected by the floods. Real Madrid and Barcelona FC are scheduled to play on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Outside Aldaia’s Bonaire Mall, rotting piles of rubble lined the roads as noisy generators pumped water from the mall’s parking lot.

Spanish police were using drones to get an initial view of the interior, a police spokesman said.

When the BBC asked a local police officer how long the operation would take, he said he could not give an estimate but said teams would stay as long as needed.

As is the case in many parts of the region that have been devastated by floods, there is an information vacuum.

There was anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from the authorities after the floods.

On Sunday, the King and Queen of Spain were pelted with mud and other objects by angry protesters during a visit to the city of Paiporta – one of the most affected in the Valencia region.

Objects were also thrown at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was quickly evacuated.

The Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the chaotic scenes, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told public broadcaster TVE.

He blamed “fringe groups” for instigating the violence in which mud spattered the monarchs’ faces and clothes.

In a press conference on Monday, the head of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) said he had pre-deployed 500 soldiers to Valencia so they could start work as soon as they were cleared.

General Francisco Javier Marcos said that when he saw that the situation had worsened, he sent alerts to 1,000 soldiers, who traveled overnight “so that at dawn the next day the people of Valencia could see that the armed forces were there.” .

He added: “You could say we didn’t act quickly. The weather partly prevented this, and secondly it was a matter of order and discipline.

“You might say that doesn’t justify being slow – well, look, you can’t bring more chaos to an already very chaotic situation.”

Local authorities in Valencia extended travel restrictions for two more days to facilitate the work of emergency services, canceled school classes and urged people to work from home.

General Marcos said the blockage on some roads is making it difficult to distribute food to the 69 affected municipalities.

He said the number of troops on the ground had been “increased” – by 7,800 troops by 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday. They were supported by 17,000 volunteers and 5,000 army soldiers providing logistical support, he said.

A warship carrying 104 marines as well as food and water trucks docked in the port of Valencia on Monday.

General Marcos said UME is “doing everything we can”, including working double shifts.

He added: “We have to be disciplined and we have to be patient. I know it’s hard because the pain and the emotion means it’s not easy.”

In Catalonia, the Ministry of Ecology said the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) had issued a red alert due to the “extreme danger” of torrential rain.

Aemet warns that up to 8cm of rain could fall in coastal areas by Tuesday morning – but that localized rain could lead to “very different” accumulations between nearby towns.

The floods in Valencia were caused by a Dana phenomenon – when warm, moist air meets cold air, creating an unstable weather system.

Scientists say the effects of climate change have worsened flooding.

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